Novel rheology regulators of the crushed natural calcium carbonate type, possibly treated with a fatty acid or its salt, and their application in polymeric compositions

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the selection of a natural calcium carbonate crushed to a high degree of fineness, possibly treated with one or more fatty acids or one or more of their salts or mixtures thereof, and its use as a rheology regulator for polymeric compositions.  
     The specific surface area is 14 to 30 m 2 /g measured according to the BET method to ISO 4652, and the oil absorption is greater than 16 measured according to ISO 787-V (Rub-out method). The conditions of mixing of the constituents and manufacture are improved, as well as the properties of the final product.

This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No.10/781,686, filed Feb. 20, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/806,473, filed Jul. 3, 2002, which is a 371 ofPCT/IB99/01625, filed Oct. 1, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the technical sector of sealants,coatings, adhesives, plastisols or rubbers.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are known, in this field, polymeric compositions, with or withoutfillers, for example polyurethanes with a silane termination which areused as sealants or adhesives setting in moist conditions.

In the presence of moisture, terminal silane groups undergo, in a knownmanner, a hydrolysis and condensation reaction. A stable siloxanelattice (Si—O—Si) then foams.

Such products have many applications in various industrial fields suchas the transport and building industries.

More and more sophisticated formulations have therefore been sought,notably of the “single-component” type, capable of being applied tovarious substrates posing problems which are more and more difficult toresolve.

The composition of this type of formulation comprises one or morefillers, which can be one or more calcium carbonates normally referredto as “fine”.

It has been discovered according to the invention that, surprisingly,the selection of a natural calcium carbonate ground to a high degree offineness, which will be described below, or this calcium carbonatetreated also as described below, makes it possible to achieve anunequalled set of satisfactory properties for the final product. Theseinclude notably good adaptability to adhesion on many types ofsubstrate, such as certain difficult plastics, including without a priorprimer coating called “primer”, a reduction in the quantity of polymerrequired (and therefore a reduction in the cost of materials), or anappreciable reduction in the mixing time (which may reach a factor of ½for each step, which has an obvious great economic advantage).

It is even more surprising to find that this remarkable improvement in aset of properties of the final product does not take place, as an expertwould logically predict, to the detriment of the final mechanicalproperties, or properties such as resistance to chemical agents or UVradiation or similar properties conventionally required of such agents.

Formulations of the plastisol type based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) arealso known.

It should be stated here that a plastisol designates a suspension of oneor more PVC resins in a liquid plasticiser and additives such as mineralfillers, stabilisers, mineral and/or organic pigments, expansion agents,adhesion promoters, fluidifiers and others.

After thermal gelling, the plastisol takes the appearance of a more orless flexible compact mass.

One of the mineral fillers normally used consists of a synthetic calciumcarbonate obtained chemically (precipitated calcium carbonate: PCC) suchas for example the product Winnofil SPT Premium™ from Zeneca.

According to the invention, it is proposed to use, as a rheologyregulating mineral material, a natural calcium carbonate crushed to ahigh degree of fineness whether or not with a dispersing agent present.This natural calcium carbonate is chosen from amongst chalk, calcite ormarble, alone or in a mixture, or from amongst these same calciumcarbonates treated by means of at least one fatty acid or its salt or amixture thereof and preferentially using stearic acid or its salt, suchas notably calcium, magnesium or zinc stearate and highly preferablyusing stearic acid or its calcium salt, the whole as described in moredetail below.

The rheology regulator product according to the invention ischaracterised in that it is a case of a natural calcium carbonate, witha specific surface area of around 14 to 30 m 2/g, preferably 16 to 24m²/g and highly preferentially around 20 m²/g, measured according to theBET method to ISO 4652.

This carbonate is possibly treated with at least one fatty acid or itssalt or a mixture thereof, an acid which is an acid containing 10 to 24atoms of carbon, and more particularly stearic acid or its salt, such asnotably calcium, magnesium or zinc stearate and highly preferentially bymeans of stearic acid or its calcium salt, preferably at the rate of0.01% to 5% by weight and more preferentially 1% to 4% by weight.

It should be noted here that stearic acid means stearic acids ofindustrial quality composed mainly of 50% to 70% octadecanoic acid and30% to 50% hexadecanoic acid.

An original advantage of the product according to the invention is thatthis product is a calcium carbonate which fulfils a rheology regulatingfunction. This function is normally devolved to the polymers andadditives contained in the polymeric formulation, such as for exampleviscosity depressors, and the Applicant was surprised to see itfulfilled by a product of the type consisting of a material with anatural mineral filler with a high degree of fineness.

The product selected according to the invention consists of a naturalcalcium carbonate crushed very finely with a dispersant present or notand possibly treated by means of at least one fatty acid or its salt ora mixture thereof.

Another of its characteristics lies in its oil absorption, which isgreater than 16, measured according to ISO 787-V (Rub-out method).

A calcium carbonate with a specific surface area of 19 to 26 m²/g wasdescribed in the patent EP 0 795 588. It is known according to thisdocument as a pigment giving brightness and opacity in the papermakingfield. This field of application is totally different. In addition, sucha function is completely different from that of a rheology regulatingaction, and nothing would suggest either the function brought to lightby the invention, nor the fact that this novel application could lead toa surprising set of properties having a great economic advantage.

The invention also relates to the use, as a rheology regulator for thepreparation of sealants or coatings, adhesives, plastisols or rubbers,of these natural calcium carbonates crushed to a very high degree offineness, possibly treated by means of at least one fatty acid or itssalt, notably of calcium, magnesium or zinc or a mixture thereof. Thisacid, which is an acid containing 10 to 24 atoms of carbon, is moreparticularly stearic acid or its salt, such as notably calcium,magnesium or zinc stearate and highly preferentially stearic acid or itscalcium salt. The processing takes place preferably at the rate of 0.01%to 5% by weight and more preferentially 1% to 4% by weight of at leastone fatty acid or its salt or a mixture thereof.

The invention also relates to the use of dispersions or suspensions, inan organic medium, of these calcium carbonates, treated or non-treated,as a rheology regulator for the preparation of sealants or coatings,adhesives, plastisols or rubbers.

The invention also relates to polymeric compositions of plastisols,sealant or coating, elastomer or rubber containing, as a rheologyregulator, the said natural calcium, carbonates crushed to a high degreeof fineness, possibly treated by means of at least one fatty acid or itssalt or a mixture thereof.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be understoodmore clearly from a reading of the following description and examples.These examples should not be taken to represent any limitative aspect ofthe invention.

In the examples, the products have the following characteristics:

Product A:

A filler of the prior art, consisting of a natural calcium carbonate ofthe chalk type, crushed and dried, not treated, with a mean graindiameter of 0.67 micrometres measured by means of the Sedigraph 5100from Micromeritics, with a specific surface area of 11 m²/g measuredaccording to the BET method to ISO 4652.

Product B:

A rheology regulator according to the invention, consisting of a naturalcalcium carbonate of the chalk type, crushed and dried, not treated,with a mean grain diameter of 0.60 micrometres measured by means of theSedigraph 5100 from Micromeritics, with a specific surface area of 19.5m²/g measured according to the BET method to ISO 4652 and with an oilabsorption of 18.75 measured according to ISO 787-V (Rub-out method).

Product C:

A rheology regulator according to the invention, consisting of a naturalcalcium carbonate of the Urgonian calcite type, crushed by the wetmethod and dried, not treated, with a mean grain diameter of 0.44micrometres measured by means of the Sedigraph 5100 from Micromeritics,with a specific surface area of 16.5 m²/g measured according to the BETmethod to ISO 4652 and with an oil absorption of 20 measured accordingto ISO 787-V (Rub-out method).

Product D:

A rheology regulator according to the invention, consisting of a naturalcalcium carbonate of the chalk type, crushed by the wet method anddried, treated by the use of 3% by weight stearic acid, with a meangrain diameter of 0.59 micrometres measured by means of the Sedigraph5100 from Micromeritics, with a specific surface area, after treatment,of 16 m²/g measured according to the BET method to ISO 4652 and with anoil absorption, after treatment, of 16.3 measured according to ISO 787-V(Rub-out method).

Product E:

A rheology regulator according to the invention, consisting of a naturalcalcium carbonate of the Urgonian calcite type, crushed by the wetmethod and dried, not treated, with a mean grain diameter of 0.58micrometres measured by means of the Sedigraph 5100 from Micromeritics,with a specific surface area of 14.4 m²/g measured according to the BETmethod to ISO 4652 and with an oil absorption of 17.9 measured accordingto ISO 787-V (Rub-out method).

Product F:

A rheology regulator according to the invention, consisting of a naturalcalcium carbonate of the chalk type, crushed by the wet method anddried, treated by the use of 1% by weight stearic acid, with a resultinggranulometry of 96%<1 micrometre and 39%<0.2 micrometres measured bymeans of the Sedigraph 5100 from Micromeritics, with a specific surfacearea, after treatment, of 28 m²/g measured according to the BET methodto ISO 4652 and with an oil absorption, after treatment, of 19.5measured according to ISO 787-V (Rub-out method).

Product G:

A rheology regulator according to the invention, consisting of a naturalcalcium carbonate of the chalk type, crushed by the wet method anddried, not treated, with a specific surface area of 22 m²/g measuredaccording to the BET method to ISO 4652 and an oil absorption of 19.4measured according to ISO 787-V (Rub-out method).

Product H:

A filler of the prior art consisting of a precipitated calcium carbonatesold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™.

Product I:

A filler of the prior art, consisting of natural calcium carbonate ofthe chalk type, crushed by the wet method and dried, treated by means of1% stearic acid, with a mean diameter of 1.4 micrometres measured bymeans of the Sedigraph 5100 from Micromeritics and with a specificsurface area of 6 m²/g measured according to the BET method to ISO 4652.

Product J:

A filler of the prior art, consisting of a natural calcium carbonate ofthe chalk type, crushed by the wet method and dried, treated by the useof 1% by weight stearic acid, with a mean diameter of 1 micrometremeasured by means of the Sedigrapb 5100 from Micromeritics and aspecific surface area of 10 m²/g measured according to the BET method toISO 4652.

Product K:

A filler of the prior art consisting of a treated precipitated calciumcarbonate sold by Solvay under the name Socal U1S2.

EXAMPLE 1

This example relates to the use of calcium carbonate as a rheologyregulator for the preparation of plastisols.

In these tests, tests were carried out on the replacement of thesynthetic calcium carbonate obtained by precipitation, of the prior art,or precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), by the specific natural calciumcarbonate according to the invention.

In a formulation of the plastisol type based on PVC (polyvinyl chloride)containing no calcium carbonate, it was sought to compare the effect ofthe replacement of 50% to 100% of the mineral filler normally used,namely a precipitated calcium carbonate, by a natural calcium carbonatecrushed to a high degree of fineness according to the invention.

To do this, with 75 g of plastisol without filler, the calcium carbonateto be tested was mixed in a 7 cm diameter receptacle and the mixture washomogenised with a spatula. Then the mixture was put in dispersion fortwo minutes using a “Pendraulik”™ LD50 laboratory mixing appliance, thediameter of the dispersing disc being 5 cm, the speed of rotation of thedisc being 2700 rev/min (manual setting at position 3).

The dispersing being terminated, the viscosity was measured by means of“Rheomat 120”™ equipment, a measuring appliance according to DIN 125, at20° C.

Test No. 1:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses 20 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH) and 5 g of natural calcium carbonate sold under the name Juraperle™BS by Juraweiss.

Test No. 2:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses 13 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH) and 12 g of product A according to the prior art.

Test No. 3:

This test illustrates the invention and uses 25 g of product B accordingto the invention.

Test No. 4:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses 20 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH).

Test No. 5:

This test illustrates the invention and uses 10 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH) and 15 g of product D according to the invention.

Test No. 6:

This test illustrates the invention and uses 10 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH) and 15 g of product C according to the invention.

Test No. 7:

This test illustrates the invention and uses 13 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH) and 12 g of product E according to the invention.

Test No. 8:

This test illustrates the invention and uses 10 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH), 5 g of natural calcium carbonate sold under the name Juraperle™0 BSby Juraweiss and 10 g of product D according to the invention.

Test No. 9:

This test illustrates the invention and uses 10 g of a precipitatedcalcium carbonate sold by Zeneca under the name Winnofil SPT™ (productH), 5 g of natural calcium carbonate sold under the name Juraperle™ BSby Juraweiss and 10 g of product E according to the invention.

Test No. 10:

This test illustrates the invention and uses, for a mixture with 72 g ofplastisol, 10 g of a precipitated calcium carbonate sold by Zeneca underthe name Winnofil SPT™ (product H), 5 g of natural calcium carbonatesold under the name Juraperle™ BS by Juraweiss and 13 g of product Eaccording to the invention.

The results of the viscosity measurements as a function of the speed offlow according to DIN 125 at 20° C. are set out in Tables Ia and Ibbelow. TABLE Ia TEST N^(o) Prior art Prior art Invention Prior artInvention 1 2 3 4 5 COMPOSITION Plastisol without filler 75.00 75.0075.00 75.00 75.00 (in g) PCC (in g) 20.00 13.00 — 25.00 10.00Juraperle ™ BS (in g)  5.00 — — — — Product A (in g) — 12.00 — — —Product B (in g) — — 25.00 — — Product D (in g) — — — — 15.00 Weight ofmixture (in g) 100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  Viscosity mPa · sSpeed of flow s −1 Test N^(o) 1 Test N^(o) 2 Test N^(o) 3 Test N^(o) 4Test N^(o) 5 RHEOLOGY 20 18200 17700 15200 17600 17100 40 10040 96508430 9900 9650 60 7260 7100 6280 7200 7100 80 5890 5730 5170 5850 5700100 5100 4880 4390 5000 4800 120 4490 4380 3980 4450 4350 140 4100 40203550 3990 3990 160 3780 3650 3310 3650 3650 180 3460 3400 3110 3400 3380200 3320 3220 2950 3190 3170 220 3140 3030 2780 3110 3000 240 3000 28702620 2890 2820 260 2870 2760 2520 2740 2700 280 2760 2680 2420 2610 2600300 2660 2570 2350 2490 2490

TABLE Ib Test N^(o) Invention Invention Invention Invention Invention 67 8 9 10 COMPOSITION Plastisol without filler 75.00 75.00 75.00 75.0072.00 (in g) PCC (in g) 10.00 13.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 Juraperle ™ BS (ing) — —  5.00  5.00  5.00 Product C (in g) 15.00 — — — — Product D (in g)— — 10.00 — — Product E (in g) — 12.00 — 10.00 13.00 Weight of mixture(in g) 100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  Viscosity mPa · s TestN^(o) Speed of flow s⁻¹ Test N^(o) 6 Test N^(o) 7 Test N^(o) 8 TestN^(o) 9 10 RHEOLOGY 20 12700 17300 13100 12500 17000 40 7280 9450 76007160 9500 60 5360 6950 5630 5250 7030 80 4430 5600 4850 4330 5580 1003820 4830 4040 3780 4800 120 3400 4230 3600 3300 4320 140 3110 3950 22903000 3790 160 2860 3550 3040 2770 3550 180 2680 3260 2850 2590 3280 2002520 3110 2680 2480 3080 220 2400 2910 2550 2320 2950 240 2290 2790 24302200 2800 260 2190 2670 2340 2130 2710 280 2120 2580 2250 2050 2610 3002040 2490 2180 1970 2490

A reading of the table shows that the use of the calcium carbonateaccording to the invention makes it possible to regulate the rheologicalbehaviour of the plastisol composition, even when 100% of theprecipitated calcium carbonate has been replaced by the calciumcarbonate according to the invention.

EXAMPLE 2

This example relates to the study of the conventional mechanicalproperties conferred by product F according to the invention, that is tosay a natural chalk crushed so as to obtain a specific surface area of28 m²/g, on mixtures based on plasticised PVC, in comparison withmixtures filled by means of natural calcium carbonates well known in theprior art.

For each of these tests, the following mixture was produced: “SOLVIC 239D” PVC sold by Solvay 100 Dioctyl phthalate (Jayflex ™ DOP from Exxon)50 Dibasic lead sulphate 1 Tribasic lead sulphate 2 Filler to be tested80

Preparation of the Composition:

The dry mixtures or “dry blends” were prepared in a “GLEDU”™ adiabaticmixer at 100° C. for a period of 15 minutes. The mixtures were thengelled on cylinders at 150° C. in a mixing mill. For all the mixtures,this operation was performed in 12 minutes.

Sheets of 90×90×2 mm were then moulded at 160° C. after preheating ofthe blank for 3 minutes and pressurising for 2 minutes before cooling,using a compression press.

The test pieces necessary for determining the mechanical properties werecut from these sheets.

The different calcium carbonates tested were:

Test No. 11:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses a natural chalk, treatedwith 1% stearic acid, with a specific surface area of 6 m²/g measuredaccording to the BET method to ISO 4652 (product 1).

Test No 12:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses a natural chalk, treatedwith 1% stearic acid, with a specific surface area of 10 m²/g measuredaccording to the BET method to ISO 4652 (product J).

Test No. 13:

This test illustrates the invention and uses product F according to theinvention.

The mechanical properties were assessed by means of dynamometric tests(tensile strength, breaking elongation, modulus 100%) carried out usingthe Instron™ equipment according to ISO 37, at a temperature 23° C. andwith a traction speed of 10 cm/min.

The ASTM-C tear strength was for its part determined according to themethod of ISO R-34 and Shore C hardness according to the method of ISO868.

The results of these measurements of mechanical properties are set outin Table II below. TABLE II Prior art Prior art Invention Test No. 11 1213 Tensile strength (daN/cm²) 128 130 136 Breaking elongation (%) 300260 172 Modulus 100% (daN/cm²) 83 106 127 ASTM-C tear strength (daN/cm)47 56 58 Shore C hardness at 15 s (in daN/cm) 60 64 74

It can be seen that the mechanical properties obtained are excellent andare superior to those obtained with natural calcium carbonates which arecrushed but which have a specific surface area outside the scope of theinvention.

The invention therefore makes it possible to optimise the formulationsaccording to the mechanical property to be favoured.

EXAMPLE 3

This example relates to the use of calcium carbonates as a rheologyregulator for the preparation of elastomer based on natural or syntheticrubber.

It was sought in this example to assess the effect of the specificsurface area of a crushed natural chalk according to the invention onthe properties of mixtures based on natural and synthetic rubbers, incomparison with a precipitated calcium carbonate of the prior art.

To do this, for each of Tests 14 and 15, the following mixture wasproduced; Natural rubber (smoked sheet quality RSS 1) 100 SBR rubber(styrene-butadiene, Cariflex ™ 1502 from Shell) 40 Zinc oxide (snowquality) from Vieille Montagne 5 Stearic acid 2 Sulphur 1.5 N-cyclohexyl2 benzothiazyl sulphenamide (Vulcafor ™ CBS from 1 Vulnax)Tetramethylthiuram disulphide (Vulkacit ™ DTMT from Bayer) 0.5 Calciumcarbonate to be tested 100

Test No. 14:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses a precipitated calciumcarbonate sold by Solvay under the name Socal U1S2 (product K).

Test No. 15:

This test illustrates the invention and uses product F according to theinvention.

These two tests were carried out as follows:

A pure gum master-batch was prepared, by the successive incorporation ofthe various ingredients, except for calcium carbonate, according to thenormal technique of experts, on a mixing mill regulated for temperature,by mixing for 10 minutes (friction I/I,4) at 60° C.

From this master-batch two samples were taken in which the calciumcarbonates to be tested had been incorporated, by mixing at 60° C. for12 minutes.

After determination of the vulcanisation optima at 155° C. using aMonsanto flow meter, sheets were moulded and vulcanised to this optimumin order to effect the measurement of the mechanical propertiesaccording to the same operating method as in the previous tests.

The results of the mechanical properties are set out in Table III below.TABLE III Prior art Invention Test No. 14 15 Vulcanisation optimum at155° C. 5 min. 15 s 5 min. Tensile strength daN/cm² 119 109 Modulus 300%daN/cm² 41 39 Elongation % 500 485 Tear strength ASTM-C daN/cm 23 26Shore A hardness (15 s) 61 61

It can be seen that the product according to the invention reduces theimplementation time (the vulcanisation optimum) as well as the tearstrength properties.

Likewise Tests 16, 17 and 18 were carried out using the followingformulation: SBR rubber (styrene-butadiene, Cariflex ™ 1502 from Shell)40 Natural rubber (smoked sheet quality RSS 1) 60 Zinc oxide (snowquality) from Vieille Montagne 5 Stearic acid 2 Sulphur 2 N-cyclohexyl 2benzothiazyl sulphenamide (Vulcafor ™ CBS from 0.9 Vulnax)Diorthotolylguanidine accelerator (Vulkafor ™ DOTG 0.3 from Vulnax)Calcium carbonate to be tested 100

Test No. 16:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses a precipitated calciumcarbonate sold by Solvay under the name Socal U1S2 (product K).

Test No. 17:

This test illustrates the prior art and uses a calcium carbonate of thechalk type, crushed by the wet method and dried, treated, with a meandiameter of 1.4 micrometres measured by means of the Sedigraph 5100 fromMicromeritics and with a specific surface area of 10 m²/g measuredaccording to the BET method to ISO 4652 (product J).

Test No. 18:

This test illustrates the invention and uses product G according to theinvention.

From this master batch manufactured with the same operating method as inthe previous test, three samples were taken in which the calciumcarbonates to be tested had been incorporated, by mixing at 60° C. for12 minutes.

After determination of the vulcanisation optima, sheets were moulded andvulcanised to this optimum in order to effect a measurement of themechanical properties according to the same operating method as for theprevious tests.

The results of the mechanical properties are set out in Table IV below.TABLE IV Prior art Prior art Invention Test No. 16 17 18 Vulcanisationoptimum at 23 min. 30 s 16 min. 45 s 11 min. 150° C. Tensile strength(daN/cm²) 122 132 132 Modulus 300% (daN/cm²) 16.5 20 20 Elongation % 695715 695 ASTM-C tear strength (daN/cm) 23 28 28 Shore A hardness (15 s)in 51 50 50 (daN/cm)

It can be seen that the product according to the invention improves theimplementation time (the vulcanisation optimum) and the majority of themechanical properties.

EXAMPLE 4

A second series of tests (Tests 19 and 20) were carried out in a naturalrubber 40 pcr filled with a mineral filler with the basic formula:Natural rubber (smoked sheet quality RSS 1) 100 Coumarone resin 60/705.6 Rosin 3 Zinc oxide (snow quality) from Vieille Montagne 40 Stearicacid 0.5 Oil 4.3 Benzothiazyl disulphide accelerator (Vulcafor ™ MBTS 1from Vulnax) Diphenylguanidine accelerator (Vulcafor ™ DPG from Vulnax)0.36

The calcium carbonates to be tested were:

Test No. 19:

A precipitated calcium carbonate (product K) for this test, whichillustrates the prior art.

Test No. 20:

A natural calcium carbonate according to the invention (product G) forthis test, which illustrates the invention.

The results of the mechanical properties, measured with the sameoperating method as for the following tests, are set out in Table Vbelow. TABLE V Prior art Invention Test No. 19 20 Vulcanisation optimumat 150° C. 7 min. 15 s 8 min. 15 s Tensile strength (daN/cm²) 246 246Modulus 300% (daN/cm²) 32 31 Elongation % 710 710 Shore A hardness (15s) in (daN/cm) 45 46.5

It can be seen that the product according to the invention makes itpossible to obtain equivalent mechanical property results, even bycompletely replacing the precipitated calcium carbonate with a naturalcalcium carbonate.

1. A method of regulating the rheology during the manufacture of atleast one of a sealant, an adhesive, a plastisol, and a rubber,comprising adding natural calcium carbonate, crushed to a high degree offineness, with a specific surface area of around 14 to 30 m²/g measuredaccording to the BET method to ISO 4652 to at least one of a sealant, anadhesive, a plastisol, and a rubber in an amount to regulate therheology of at least one of a sealant, an adhesive, a plastisol, and arubber.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calcium carbonate has aspecific surface area of around 16 to 24 m²/g.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of around 20m²/g.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural calcium carbonatehas a specific surface area of 14.4 m²/g.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the natural calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of 16m²/g.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural calcium carbonatehas a specific surface area of 16.5 m²/g.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the natural calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of 22m²/g.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural calcium carbonatehas a specific surface area of 28 m²/g.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the natural calcium carbonate is treated with at least one fattyacid containing 10 to 24 carbon atoms or a salt thereof selected fromthe group consisting of calcium salt, magnesium salt, zinc salt, andmixtures thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural calciumcarbonate is treated with stearic acid or a calcium salt thereof in aproportion of around 0.01% to 5% by weight.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein the natural calcium carbonate is treated with stearic acid or acalcium salt thereof in a proportion of around 1% to 4% by weight. 12.The method of claim 1, wherein the natural calcium carbonate has an oilabsorption which is greater than 16 measured according to ISO 787-V(Rub-out method).
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the rheology of asealant is regulated.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the rheology ofan adhesive is regulated.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein therheology of a plastisol is regulated.
 16. The method of claim 1, whereinthe rheology of a rubber is regulated.